MinkFlamingos

Jul 25 Disney Villain Countdown: 2/40

**Spoiler Alert! Some villains are revealed in plot twists, so if you haven't seen all the movies...**

There are two Gastons in this image instead of just one. You're welcome.

Fear/Intimidation FactorGaston is a little too... well... dumb to be truly scary/intimidating. He is BIG and muscular, and he can shoot a gun... and bite in wrestling matches... and apparently incite through hero worship an entire town into a murderous mob... Wait. Gaston is way scarier than I was giving him credit for [raises score in this category]... that's better.

Positively Primeval

NGL, kinda dig angry wet Gaston...

Character DesignWhat a fascinating challenge for an animator: create a man that looks like the hero from a romance novel cover, but still let him be readily identifiable as a Disney villain. Gaston is BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL, but he's got those angry eyebrows and... strangely pointy teeth? Clever, Disney. Gaston's outfit is the only aspect that could perhaps have been improved upon; it's not bad, just largely forgettable. Take note Governor Ratcliffe: this is how you wear a hair bow.

If you read more, you'd know it should be "There're" [Oooooh Burn!]

Ready for his close up

Wit & QuotabilityWitty? No. Quotable? Oui! The depths of Gaston's density and self-involvement are evident in EVERY primeval word that comes out of his mouth. Gaston is the King Misogynist, and he's not afraid to let you know. Perhaps the greatest brilliance comes from the fast that he is blissfully unaware of the implications of his words.

The pointed toe is the icing on the cake

MemorabilityWhat a guy, that Gaston! Indisputably the best-looking male villain in Disney history. Despite all his deviant selfishness, he still manages to maintain a strange amount of likability. So entertaining is he, he is one of only two villains to have a permanent daily appearance at Disney World, even going so far a to have his own tavern in the new Fantasyland. Bored? Do a youtube search for videos of people doing meetings with Gaston, he is HILARIOUS. The Disney character actors have it figured out: Gaston is that magical balance between arrogant and charming that doesn't quite edge toward being obnoxious. Perfect score.

"The world should experience our beauty, Princess."

70's chest bush

SidekicksLeFou... not just a clever name. Physically, he is the antithesis of Gaston. I'd like to say he's the brains of the operation, but he's really not. LeFou is Gaston's hype man, the Flavor Flav to Gaston's Chuck D. And he is PERFECT at it. LeFou is a wonderful outlet for slapstick, a great balance to how seriously Gaston takes himself. High marks.

SongGaston earns the one and only perfect score in this category of any villain. Even if you don't think his song is the best villain song ever (it is, you're wrong, just sayin'), he earns bonus points for the brilliant reprise AND leads the Kill the Beast mob song preceding the climax. Holy over-achiever, Gaston! If I could score higher than 100, I would. Let's get back to the brilliance that is Gaston's song: not only does it extoll the many virtues of Gaston, it does so in a way that is so FUNNY you can't keep a straight face. The lyrics are SO CLEVER..

For there's no one in town half as MANLY. Perfect, a pure paragon.You can ask any Tom, Dick or StanleyAnd they'll tell you who's team they prefer to be on.

Yes, they rhymed Manly with Stanley, and I couldn't love them any more for it. Beauty and the Beast was Ashman's swan song and he truly went out with a bang. Hats off. Fifty frenchmen can't be wrong.